Tried and true newborn and essentials for the first year and beyond, from a newborn photographer and mom of 4
We are pretty minimal when it comes to baby gear. If it doesn't make parenting easier or baby more comfortable and safe, it's a skip for us! This is a list of baby items we used with ALL 4 of our infants, from 2016-2025. Baby gear is an ever changing landscape, so if something made it through almost a decade and 4 babies, I'd say it's worth the investment! I will note with each product whether the original purchase is still is use, or if I replaced the product with the same version due to wear and tear. Links are all listed at the end - here we go!
Solly Baby Wrap - I'm including 2 different types of carriers on this list, because I am 100% a baby carrier mom - I would always rather carrier a baby over a heavy carseat or lifting a stroller in and out of the car everywhere we go. Bonus, I get all the snuggles! The Solly is the exact brand we've used with all our babies and I would recommend them over and over.
Original/Replacement? I replaced my original wrap with a replacement after it got damaged in a move. I'd estimate they will last through 2+ babies, but need to be replaced with heavy use/long storage times as it is a stretchy fabric and you want your wrap to be high and tight.
Wildbird Ring Sling - The easiest carrier for in and out quickly, perfect for short carries into the grocery store or dropping off a toddler at preschool. The linen is perfect for Florida weather year round, and feels super supportive and grippy in the rings.
Original/Replacement? I still have the original in use, but I have bought several through the years because they always have fun new colors. :)
Double Stroller - A quality stroller is a great parenting investment, in my opinion! I've literally used our City Select essentially every single day since our first was born 8+ years ago for daily walks around our neighborhood...that's a lot of stroller use!! We opted for a double stroller with a lot of seat configurations because we knew we wanted multiple children before our first was born. The only con to a stroller system like this is...it's not light. If I'm taking only one child somewhere that I need a stroller for, I'll typically throw a lightweight umbrella stroller in the car instead.
Original/replacement? The original is still in use with no issues for us!
Abiie Baby Highchair - I highly recommend a good quality high chair. Baby spends a lot of time learning to eat, and this will make everyone's life a little simpler. It pushes under a standard height table without the tray, is low profile, and, most importantly - has an adjustable foot rest so baby can always have their feet/knees at a 90 degree angle while eating. This will get you through first foods through toddlerhood and beyond (though we always have another baby who needs to use it at that point!)
Original/Replacement? The original is still going strong after multiple moves and lots of use. It's ready for many more years of use through our 4th baby's toddlerhood!
Baby Bjorn Bouncer - We don't personally use lots of "baby containers" like motorized swings, baby walkers, etc., simply out of personal preference and to save space, but this bouncer is a lifesaver for a safe, comfy place to put baby when I need to tend to another child, shower, cook without a baby in the carrier, etc. and baby is too fussy to have floor time. It adjusts to a very reclined position for newborns to a more upright position as baby grows and gets stronger. Penny now has figured out how to bounce herself by swinging her arms up and it's very entertaining! It's a dinnertime hero in our house!
Original/Replacement? Our original is going strong and has been washed many a time. The seat slides right off the base and can be thrown in the washing machine (warning, it's a perfect position for blowout diapers, haha).
Dohm Sound Machine - A white noice machine is essential for us for helping keep baby asleep through sleep cycle transitions when our house is...less than quiet! I highly prefer the physical fan noise that Dohm uses over an electronic white noise machine that you could use on your phone or some smaller speaker type options on the market.
Original/Replacement? The original is still in use in our home!
Owlet monitor - Our first baby had an unexpected NICU stay and the Owlet helped ease my anxiety once returning home. We loved it so much we've continued to use it with each baby. It offers a lot of peace of mind for me.
Original/Replacement? Our original monitor did break at some point and was replaced by Owlet customer service. We had a good experience with the replacement process and it's still going strong for baby #4. I'm not sure what their current warranty/replacement policies are so definitely check if that's important to you!
Pack and Play - This is a versatile baby item that I have mixed feelings about...our kids never sleep well in a pack and play, but it's been essential for a safe place to put baby away from pets or toddlers, a safe sleep option for travel or in our room for sleep regressions and transitions, etc. If I had to buy one today, I'd probably pick the Guava Lotus because I love the zip open option and that it packs up into a backpack .
Notably missing from this list is a crib/bassinet. We didn't use the same sleep solution for all 4 kids, so it didn't make the cut. We used a Snoo bassinet for 3/4 of our newborns, but I probably wouldn't repurchase it today, simply because there are so many more versatile and less expensive options on the market than when we bought ours back in 2018. We typically transition from a bassinet right to a Montessori-style floor bed in a baby-proofed room, so I can go nurse side-lying in the middle of the night rather than trying to transfer baby into a crib and waking us both up more.
Car seats all have to pass the same safety standards, so we simply choose what works best for our car and lifestyle with each baby. These get replaced pretty often both because we have so many kids and because they expire after a certain number of years depending on the manufacturer.
Another missing item is a play mat - we LOVE and use these often for floor time, but I don't have any affinity for a particular brand or type, and...a baby blanket works just fine, too!
